Drug Dependence Vs. Drug Addiction: What’s the Difference?

When talking about drug and alcohol problems, most people use the terms addiction and dependence interchangeably, but they are actually two different things. Often these two separate issues do go hand in hand and are both present in an individual, but in other cases, they can appear independently. Knowing the differences between these two terms, and they ways in which they may interact with each other, is vital to delivery of appropriate recovery treatment.

A growing tolerance to medications or to recreational drugs can be seen as dependence and may indicate a developing addiction. As a brain and body adapts to the effects of a drug, a user is more likely to experience painful and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit. Dependence is really mainly a physical reliance on a substance. Although a dependent user will not typically experience a loss of control over his or her life from using, he or she will experience physical symptoms of withdrawal such as nausea, vomiting, tremors, chills, sweating and low blood pressure, as well as psychological symptoms including irritability, depression, anxiety, and fuzzy thinking when unable to maintain at least a baseline level of the substance in the body.

However, these symptoms are not always the case either – it varies and certainly depends on the medication that is prescribed. Some people are dependent on drugs for heart conditions, seizures, asthma, and a wide variety of other ailments. Although these people are dependent on their medication in order to manage their lives and life each day in a healthy manner, they may not experience any withdrawal symptoms at all if they forget to refill their prescription on time. They are still dependent on their medication, though, and may suffer in other ways if they do not take their prescribed medication per their doctor’s orders.

Can Drug Abuse Lead to Drug Dependence?

Roughly 22.7 million Americans require help to treat a drug or alcohol problem, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In fact, drug abuse sometimes leads to substance use disorder (SUD), a condition that is commonly linked to drug dependence.

Alcohol Use Disorder: Occurs when an individual cannot control his or her alcohol consumption and continues to consume excess amounts of alcohol – despite any prior drinking problems.

Tobacco Use Disorder: Refers to the ongoing use of tobacco products that damage virtually every organ in the human body, as well as cause heart disease, lung cancer, and other fatal conditions.

Cannabis Use Disorder: Causes short-term side effects like difficulty problem-solving and loss of motor coordination. In the long-term, cannabis use disorder increases a person’s risk of respiratory infection, impaired memory, and poor cognitive functioning.

Stimulant Use Disorder: Results in elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration, along with stimulant withdrawal symptoms like difficulty sleeping and increased appetite. Some of the most commonly abused stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, and methamphetamines.

Hallucinogen Use Disorder: Leads to auditory and visual hallucinations, distorted perceptions, and individual detachment from his or her environment or self.

Opioid Use Disorder: Causes drowsiness, mental confusion, euphoria, and nausea, among other health issues. Opioid use disorder also increases a person’s risk of suffering a drug overdose and severe medical complications.

Several triggers are associated with SUDs, too. These triggers include:

Drug Dependence: An individual feels that he or she can no longer live without drugs; at this time, an individual’s physical and mental health may suffer significant damage.

If you or someone you know is dealing with drug dependence, seeking medical help is critical. With a proactive approach to treatment, an individual can get support to overcome his or her drug dependence.

What is Drug Addiction?

Someone who is only dependent on drugs without actually being addicted will likely not experience a loss of control, strong cravings for their drug of choice, participate in compulsive drug use, or fail to meet obligations. An addict, however, will likely experience all of these things. People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are characterized as people who consistently use those substances, and use them to excess. They may find themselves in dangerous situations, may knowingly jeopardize their health, and may neglect important commitments at school, home, or work. Addicted individuals likely participate in behavior that is destructive to jobs, homes, finances, friendships, and family relationships. Psychology Today defines addiction as an activity initially enjoyed by a person, but with repeated use and higher amounts needed to achieve a similar high that can become self-destructive or even life threatening for the abuser. A person who is addicted is no longer taking a drug to feel its effects, but rather to escape withdrawal and feel normal. Whereas dependence is mostly a physical reliance on a substance, addiction is more all encompassing, and includes not only a physical reliance, but a mental and emotional one as well.

Unlike dependence, addiction can apply to other things besides drugs and alcohol, such as gambling, sex, eating, or compulsive internet use. Studies have shown that addiction can form in individuals as a result of genetic makeup, combined with environment. A child of a parent with a drug addiction is eight times as likely to become an addict himself or herself, but also, even an individual with no family history of addiction can be at risk, too. Scientific research has found that there are actual neurochemical differences between a normal person’s brain and an addict’s brain, showing that some people are predisposed to addiction, but it is still at least a partial mystery as to why that is.

How Long Does It Take to Develop a Drug Addiction?

There is no set amount of time that it takes for a person to become addicted to a drug. Various factors impact how quickly a person develops a drug addiction, and these include:

Age

Environment

Gender

Genetics

Social interactions

Additionally, there are several warning signs that indicate an individual may be dealing with a drug addiction, and these signs include:

Bloodshot eyes or pupils

Changes in a person’s physical appearance and/or personal hygiene

Rapid weight loss or gain

Slurred speech and/or impaired motor coordination

Sudden lack of interest in past activities or relationships

If you or someone you know is struggling with a drug addiction, don’t wait to get help. Remember, the longer it takes a person to identify and address a drug addiction, the more difficult it may be for this individual to overcome his or her addiction. And in some instances, a drug addiction may be fatal. Fortunately, by exploring drug addiction treatment options, a person can take the first step to beat his or her addiction.

The Difference Between Drug Addiction and Dependence

The main difference between dependence and addiction and most simple way to differentiate between the two is that dependence is when a drug is required to and allows someone to maintain normal functioning, whereas, conversely, addiction actually interferes with an individual’s normal functioning. The treatment for these two conditions differs. People who are dependent on a drug or alcohol must detox from that substance; dependence can be managed and resolved through slowly lowering the dosage through tapering. They also may be prescribed medications to help them avoid relapse and will almost definitely also attend counseling and group therapy to stay off the drug in the future. Addiction recovery treatment certainly also includes counseling and group therapy, but it may or may not require detoxing. Furthermore, treatment for addiction must also seek the root of the problem in the individual, which may be related to mental health issues, depression, or anxiety.

In the United States today, there is no denying that we are in the midst of a terrible and tragic opioid epidemic. Opioids, even when used as prescribed, can cause physical dependence, and when misused, can lead to addiction. Two million people in the United States are dependent opioid prescription drugs, and five million Americans use opioid pain relievers illegally, or without medical supervision. Sadly, when someone becomes addicted to opioids, they quickly see firsthand how difficult it is to break free from their hold. Some find success in traditional in-patient or outpatient drug rehabilitation programs. Alternately, others find “replacement therapy” treatment using Methadone or Buprenorphine to be helpful. Although some consider the use of these substances to simply be a transfer of one addiction for another, for individuals who are mainly experiencing dependence rather than an addiction, this replacement of a similar but less dangerous drug may be all they need to break free from the opioid.

Still others turn to ibogaine treatment, which can be helpful for both people suffering from dependence and those experiencing addiction. An ibogaine detox such as what we offer at Clear Sky Recovery in Cancun, Mexico can help people avoid painful withdrawal symptoms and offers a detoxification process that has changed the lives of many. During a weeklong stay at our facility, clients receive before care, aftercare, a medically supervised detox, one-on-one therapy, and comfortable accommodations in a lovely property located right on the beach. Ibogaine therapy allows addicted or drug dependent individuals a way to interrupt their addiction and to go deep within themselves to find the roots of the problem. Our intake specialists are standing by to answer your questions, so please give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you and to helping you get started on your recovery journey.